DPS Meeting, Madison, October 1998
Session 36. Europa I
Contributed Oral Parallel Session, Thursday, October 15, 1998, 9:00-10:00am, Madison Ballroom C

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[36.06] Temporal Changes in Europa's UV Spectra

D. L. Domingue (JHU/APL), A. L. Lane (JPL)

Comparisons of International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observations taken from 1984-1986 with similar observations taken in 1996 show the first detection of temporal changes in the UV spectral reflectance of the Jupiter-facing quadrant of Europa's leading hemisphere. The temporal variations are most pronounced between 15o-75o longitude. The short time scale in which these temporal changes were produced is commensurate with possible resurfacing events. The central trailing hemisphere region displays a 0.28 \mum SO2 absorption that has remained constant in relative depth over the past decade to within the instrument detection limits. A new, but currently unidentified, absorption feature at 0.33 \mum is detected on the leading hemisphere.

Associated graphic in PDF format.


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